Microsoft recently updated a lesser-known Windows tool,Phone Link, to support a feature Mac owners have enjoyed for some time – native, wireless file transfer to and from an iPhone. There have long been ways of moving files between an iPhone and a PC without a USB cable, of course, but having the option baked into Windows should hopefully make it more convenient. Not everyone wants to use a cloud service likeiCloudorGoogle Drive.
Windows Phone Link transfers are a little more complicated than a Mac, and they’re not available for everyone just yet. Here’s what you need to know to give them a try.
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What do you need to use Phone Link file transfers on an iPhone?
Stay tuned for universal access
At the moment, the most critical requirement involves signing up for theWindows Insider program, which grants access to preview software. Be cautious about participating, though – Insider releases are more likely to contain bugs. If you depend on a Windows PC for work or school, it may be best to wait until Microsoft rolls out file transfers to a stable release (see the note at the end of this article).
The most critical requirement involves signing up for the Windows Insider program.
If you’re willing to make the leap, though, you’ll also need the following:
Update Windows by searching for Windows Update in the taskbar. You can download (or update)Link for Windowsby searching for it in the iOS App Store. To update iOS, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
How do you set up Phone Link file transfers?
Getting started with Phone Link
The first thing is to enable Phone Link, if you haven’t already. Here’s the general process:
If you’re new to Phone Link, you’ll be offered file sharing during setup. If you were already using Phone Link with your iPhone, visitaka.ms/addAccountin a Windows web browser – you’ll be guided through enabling transfers.
How to transfer files
If you’re lucky enough to have access, here’s how to send files from an iPhone to your PC:
To send files from Windows to your iPhone:
When will everyone get access to Phone Link file transfers?
Don’t hold your breath
There’s no word from Microsoft just yet. That makes sense – the Windows Insider program is about testing new software, and it’s always difficult to tell how long that will go, much less how long it might take to fix major bugs. Since beta file transfers only launched in mid-December, however, it’s safe to say that we’ll be waiting until sometime in early 2025. Even Microsoft engineers get to take time off for the holidays, and it would be risky to push out Windows updates with few (if any) team members handy to solve unexpected glitches.
